Super-sub Gabriel Martinelli became Brazil’s savior, scoring a stunning stoppage-time winner to secure a thrilling 2-1 victory over a tenacious Japanese team. fifa world cup The Round of 32 begins Monday at NRG Stadium.The five-time champions were facing a disastrous exit when Samurai Blue took a stunning lead in the 29th minute. Kaishu Sano took advantage of a misplaced pass in midfield and raced down the pitch, knocking out Alisson Becker with a brilliant right-footed strike from half a circle.Ancelotti’s half-time team speech completely energized the Brazilian players, who performed well and dominated possession. The breakthrough finally came in the 52nd minute when Japanese goalkeeper Zion Suzuki bravely blocked Bruno Guimarães’ header before Casemiro’s shot bounced off the defender’s head and the goalkeeper’s face. In the 56th minute, Casemiro made up for his previous mistake, leaping high to receive a cross from Gabriel Magalhães, and smashed Suzuki’s goal with a majestic header.Brazil smelled blood but the superb Suzuki made four saves to keep out a rampant Vinicius Junior after just two minutes, hitting his shot from the left box against the far post.Due to the Japanese team’s tenacious defense, overtime seemed to be a certainty, especially in the 91st minute, when the physically challenged Casemiro was forced to leave due to a leg injury. However, Martinelli had other plans. In the 96th minute, Bruno Guimarães made a clever pass to unlock the defense, and the Arsenal winger calmly fired a shot, causing chaos in the audience.The dramatic win, which came on the anniversary of Brazil’s first World Cup win in 1958, extended their head-to-head record with Japan to 12 wins in 15 games. It also breaks hearts for Japan, which has deep cultural ties, as Brazil has the largest diaspora population with 2.7 people of Japanese descent and a million-strong football lineage pioneered by the legendary Zico.While Japan continues its quest for a first knockout victory, Brazil is safely in the quarterfinals in East Rutherford, N.J., awaiting either Ivory Coast or Norway.
